Iraq Infrastructure Reconstruction Office

The Coalition Provisional Authority's Iraq Infrastructure Reconstruction Office (IIRO), "Anxious to appear fair in doling out nearly $20 billion in work in Iraq, the U.S.-led authority there is holding conferences in Washington and London next week for prospective contractors." The IIRO is "set to draw thousands of participants at its meetings in Washington on Nov. 19 [2003] and in London two days later. ... 'The conferences will allow both small and large industry to see where we are going and it will enhance the transparency of the contracting process,' a U.S. defense official said on Monday, adding that no new contracts would be announced." 10 November 2003

"The new office, which will be based in Baghdad, is expected to handle most of the $20.3 billion in new reconstruction work requested by President George W. Bush to Congress in supplemental funding for Iraq, U.S. officials said. ... Details of the new office were still being worked out but it was expected to be up and running next month. ... Plans to create the Project Management Office were first revealed at a conference in London on Monday."[1]

Iraq Infrastructure Reconstruction Office Industry Day
The Department of Defense announces the Coalition Provisional Authority's (CPA) Industry Day, to be held on Nov. 19 in Arlington, Va. at the Crystal Gateway Marriott.

This conference is CPA's first step in a series of measures designed to make the contracting process and business opportunities in Iraq as transparent and accessible as possible.

Industry Day is presented in coordination with the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) and the Army Corps of Engineers Small and Disadvantaged Business Advocate in a joint government and non-profit partnership with the CPA Iraq Infrastructure Reconstruction Office (IIRO).

The IIRO will emphasize full and open competition in awarding contracts and responsiveness to the needs of Iraqi citizens. IIRO will manage the reconstruction program from Baghdad under the direction of retired Rear Admiral David Nash.

Industry Day is an important feature of the partnering process in the infrastructure industry that blends the management and technical capabilities of industry with the vision and objectives of Government. It will include presenting the vision for the rebuilding of Iraq, creating opportunities for small and large businesses to learn about contracting opportunities, and providing partnering prospects in support of reconstruction efforts.

For additional information on the event, visit http://www.rebuilding-iraq.net/pls/. For questions not answered on the website please call the Industry Day information number during business hours 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday at (703) 317-6577.

Agenda for the Coalition Provisional Authority's Iraq Infrastructure Reconstruction Office (IIRO) Industry Day. In cooperation with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Small Business Office [and] The Society of American Military Engineers. November 19, 2003, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Crystal City, Virginia.

"In response to Congressional interest in the Coalition Provisional Authority's (CPA) contracting process and business opportunities in Iraq for constituents, I am pleased to announce that CPA Industry Day will be held on November 19, 2003 in Arlington, Virginia. Industry Day is the first step in a series of measures designed to make CPA's contracting process as transparent and open as possible."

"Industry Day is an important feature of the partnering process in the infrastructure industry that blends the management and technical capabilities of industry with the vision and objectives of government. It will include presenting the vision for the rebuilding of Iraq, creating opportunities for small and large businesses to learn about contracting opportunities, and providing partnering prospects in support of reconstruction efforts.

"Requests for proposals (RFPs) will be available online at this site beginning in late November. Interested businesses can register for the CPA's Industry Day via the website at http://register.pgi.com/same. The sessions will be taped and made available via the Internet at a later date."

"The administration also has brought in retired Admiral David Nash, former head of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, to help oversee program management of the gargantuan nation-building effort. But congressional Democrats are skeptical about the size of the reconstruction spending proposal, which Bush sent to Congress on Sept. 17, and how the White House wants to fund it."

"The largest piece of the reconstruction program, to be directed by Bremer's organization, would be $5.7 billion for electric power, including $2.9 billion for generation and $1.55 billion for transmission. Other items are: $3.76 billion for water and sewerage, including $2.8 billion for 15,000 km of water main line; $2.1 billion for oilfields, including $1.2 billion for infrastructure; $875 million for water resources, including $200 million for an Umm Qasr-to-Basra water pipeline and treatment plant; $835 million for transportation and telecommunications, including $165 million for airport work; $240 million for roads and bridges; and $860 million for health projects, including $150 million for a new pediatric hospital."

"With Congress on the verge of approving an $87-billion emergency supplemental spending bill for military operations and reconstruction in Iraq, a new Defense Dept. unit to oversee construction contracts there is gearing up to accelerate the bid process for the rebuilding effort.

"Retired Admiral David Nash, former head of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, will head the new office from Baghdad, supported by staff in Washington, D.C. 'My job is to make sure the supplemental money is appropriately contracted for,' Nash said from Washington in an Oct. 29 interview with ENR.

"Nash and his staff in the Iraq Infrastructure Reconstruction Office are finalizing details of an expedited procurement process so that more than 20 potential contracts will be 'ready to execute' as soon as the funds from the supplemental spending bill become available.

"Nash also plans two industry days in November--one meeting will be in Washington, D.C., and the other in London--to get the word out to potential bidders about the scope of work. The meetings were expected to be in mid-November, but Nash hadn't set a specific date as of Oct. 29.

"House and Senate negotiators approved the spending plan on Oct. 29, including about $13 billion for actual reconstruction work. The full House was expected to vote on the bill late on Oct. 30 with Senate action to follow soon after that. President Bush is expected to sign the legislation."